Testimony by Timothy Ruse, M.Ed., RPSGT, Before the Fairfax County Public School Board Regarding Budget Implications of Adolescent Sleep and School Start Times

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

Good Evening,

My name is Tim Ruse. I would like to thank the school board for the opportunity to testify before you and share my insights on the current dialogue regarding school start times and their implications on the budget of the school district, student health and safety, learning, and classroom vigilance. By profession, I am a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist, and the Director of a local Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Center. I am here today testifying because, as a parent of a young child, and a resident of Fairfax County, I have a personal stake in the outcome of this issue, and as a Sleep Medicine Professional with many years of clinical experience, as well as involvement with pediatric sleep research, I see tremendous health and academic benefits related to adjusted school bell schedules. Given these benefits, the proposed plan to provide a cost-free way to provide reasonable bell schedules is a positive and responsible course of action.

Given noted budget cuts this year, I support the newly proposed plan because it uses fewer buses, and also would allow for students to be optimally alert while in the classroom; therefore improving our investment in education. I also would not advocate for this issue a matter of reducing the rigorous nature of academics that should be faced by students or to make concession to the busy lifestyles of teens. It is only to accommodate for normal physiological patterns seen in teens. Physiologically, the sleep of teenagers is significantly different than that of adults in that the duration of sleep in teens is set at a later period of time during a 24 hour period. When this “delayed sleep phase” is accommodated for, daytime sleepiness is reduced, which has positive implications such as improved vigilance, retention of new knowledge, and less behavioral problems to mention a few.

We have seen research that shows that daytime sleepiness negatively affects school performance in high school students (Kwiatkowski & Pagel 2008). We also see secondary health and fitness benefits to improved sleep, and have recently seen research that suggests that in addition to lower grades and decreased intrinsic motivation, emotional and behavioral disturbance are increased with less sleep (Danner & Gilman, 2008).

Again, thank you for this opportunity to speak with you. I hope that you decide, due to the health and academic benefits, as well as potential financial benefits, that you will consider the newly drafted plan for adjusting school bell schedules. I am happy to answer any questions from you at any time.

Danner, FW & Gilman R, (2008). Sleep habits, Emotional Disturbance, and ADHD in High School Freshman. Journal of Sleep and Sleep Disorders Research. Volume 31, #321, A107.

Kwiatkowski, C & Pagel, JF, (2008). Sleep Complaints Affecting School Performance at Different Educational Levels. Journal of Sleep and Sleep Disorders Research. Volume 31, #199, A66.

Timothy Ruse M.Ed, RPSGT

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